Atabaque

The Atabaque is a drum that is used in Brazilian music especially in the ritual of the Afro-Brazilian religions Candomblé, Umbanda and Macumba, in the accompaniment of martial dance capoeira and samba de roda and in the Samba de caboclo.

In the ritual area a set of three drums of: The deepest and largest is the rum (about 120 cm), tuned slightly higher the Rumpi (about 90 cm), the highest and lowest means Lê (about 70 cm). The dimensions can vary greatly.

Similarly, the conga, the Atabaque is a barrel- shaped tube drum and is made indeed often still of barrel makers. However, it is more elongated, less bulbous and tapers, especially at the lower end, more clearly than the conga. Because of the narrow opening the boiler Atabaque usually rests in a stand and is then played because of their size while standing. The coat (usually made ​​of goat skin) was formerly voted with a string peg - lacing, today we mostly used a screw clamp.

Whether the Atabaque is played as a hand drum or wooden sticks, depends on the cultural context in which it is employed. The most striking is probably the game with a thicker floor and a free hand on the rum, or with two long, thin sticks on Rumpi and Lê. This way of playing is characteristic of the music of Candomblé Ketu. All other styles (see above) are played with the hands. The technique is largely identical to the conga percussion technique, but not closed, but open Slaps be played.

Like the music that is played on it, is also the instrument itself is of African origin. The Arab influence ( in arab. 's Tabaq, pl. Atabaq the name for a barrel drum ) and that Portugal is not yet clear.